Local Toys For Tots Collection

Brittany Stormer, the daughter of Detective Sgt Henry Stormer of the Newtown Police Department, has organized a Toys for Tots Collection in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

The USMC Reserve began collecting toys for needy children in California in 1947. Toys can be dropped off at Kaybee Toy Works in the Sand Hill Plaza in Newtown until November 30.

Brittany is an eighth grade student at Memorial Middle School in Middlebury. On November 9, she  was joined by Lt Col David Kilbourn of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Reserve in Plainville, who went to Memorial and addressed the student body explaining the Toys for Tots program, its history, and its importance.

This year the Toys for Tots Program is placing a special emphasis on making sure that children whose lives were affected by the loss of a parent in the tragedy of September 11 are remembered with toys this Christmas. This includes children of Workers in the WTC or Pentagon, passengers and crew of the four airliners lost, and children of emergency services workers lost.

Toys must be new and unwrapped and can be for any age group. The USMC Reserve requests that no toy weapons be donated.

Toys also can be dropped off in the Project Explore Office at Memorial Middle School during school hours. Questions concerning Toys can be addressed to Judy York, Project Explore Director, at 203-758-1920.